Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, died Thursday morning (Nov. 6) from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, per ESPN.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” Marshawn’s family, including his siblings AJ Kneeland, Shawn Kneeland and Yahmya Kneeland, wrote in a joint Nov. 6 Facebook statement. “As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field—as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend.”
Marshawn’s agent Jonathan Perzley, who described the NFL player as a “dearest friend,” also shared his devastation over the news.
“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” Jonathan wrote in a statement shared to social media. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.
Marshawn was drafted in 2024 as the Cowboys’ second-round pick. During his almost two seasons on the team, the 24-year-old amassed 26 tackles and one sack across 18 games, including four starts. On Monday, he scored his first career touchdown in the Cowboys’ Nov. 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marshawn attended Western Michigan University beginning in 2019. He almost transferred to play for Deion Sanders at Colorado in 2022 before deciding to remain in his home state. During his collegiate career, Marshawn recorded 149 tackles, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles in 38 games.
“My heart is absolutely broken over the loss of Marshawn Kneeland,” Western Michigan University coach Lance Taylor said in a statement.
“Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player — he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally.”